Exmouth Town suffered a heart-breaking defeat at the Complete Infrastructure Stadium, as a late Dean Griffiths goal saw Portishead Town win 3-2.

Town would lead twice through goals from Ben Griffith and Ethan Slater, but Kyle Egan and Lucas Vowles would both find equalisers, before the substitute delivered the final blow.

The hosts would start the game stronger, with both Matt Wright having a header go wide, whilst a teasing Luke Steer ball almost found two onrushing Town players.

It would be Exmouth who had the first big chance on goal, with Griffith finding Wright, and his ball being met by a sliding Steer, although his close range effort was just wide.

Confident following his wonder-strike on Saturday, Slater almost grabbed his second goal of the season contender, as his half-volley from outside the box was well-saved by Ryan Thacker.

Steer would have another effort which would find the goalkeeper, followed by the shot-stopper denying Wright, and it was clear Exmouth were playing with an attacking intent that was missing in their opening day defeat. 

The visitors did come close to open the scoring through a familiar face, with Jack Thorne getting in behind the Town defence, but his effort flew over the bar.

Callum Shipton had an opportunity to send Exmouth into the break ahead, with the ball falling to him in the box, but his volley went over.

Griffith would give Town their first chance of the second half, getting in behind the Portishead defence before firing over the bar.

An own goal would almost put the hosts ahead, as a miscommunication between Thacker and Tom Llewellyn saw the latter chase his own header down, with it luckily going wide of the post.

The goalkeeper made a superb save to deny Steer as he curled an effort towards goal, getting just fingertips on the ball.

Exmouth would open the scoring with 19 minutes to go, as Wright flicked on an Ollie Knowles pass, which put Griffith through on goal and he calmly slotted the ball past Thacker.

Griffiths almost made an instant impact, as he went through on goal but his first touch sent the ball wide.

Portishead would catch Town off guard just moments later, as Egan took a quick corner, which beat everyone, including Aaron Dearing to level the game.

Undeterred by the setback, the hosts would get back in front, with Isaac McCue and Aarron Denny linking up to set through Slater, who got his second in two games with a powerful volley.

However, history would repeat itself, as another Egan corner would find Vowles, who headed home at the near post.

It would be the visitors who took all three points, as Exmouth gave the ball away and Griffiths burst through on goal, beating Dearing from the edge of the box.

A tough defeat in a game that Town will feel like they should have won, but plenty of improvements on the weekend’s defeat.

Exmouth will have a chance to put it right on Saturday, as attention turns to the FA Cup, when Town host Buckland on Saturday (3pm KO).

Attendance – 324

Line-Up: Dearing, Belsten, Morcom, Knowles, Landricombe, Slater, Shipton, L.Steer (McCue, 81), Griffith (Butcher, 81), Kennell (Denny, 73), Wright.

SUBS NOT USED: Cann, Shore.